Life

Metr. Nicholas was born Richard Smisko on February 23, 1936 and was raised in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. After completing his secondary schooling, he attended Youngstown State University and the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown before studying at Christ the Savior Seminary in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He continued his theological studies at the Patriarchal Theological Seminary in Istanbul.

Following the sudden death of Bp. John Martin on September 30, 1984, the administrator of the diocese, mitred priest Fr. Peter E. Molchany, and the diocesan board of trustees convened a Special Council-Sobor to nominate a candidate for ruling bishop of the diocese. At the Special Council, held on November 26, 1984, Bp. Nicholas of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America was nominated as their candidate to be the bishop of the diocese. After receiving his nomination, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elected Bp. Nicholas as Ruling Bishop of ACROD on March 20, 1985.

During his episcopacy, Metr. Nicholas has been active in relationships with other Orthodox jurisdictions and in particular with the brethren in the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, the homelands of many Carpatho-Russians in the United States. He revamped the diocesan seminary, encouraged starting new parishes, and publication of services books containing music in Carpatho-Russian plain chant.

Metr. Nicholas reposed on March 13, 2011 after waging a courageous battle with cancer. After a funeral service at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Johnstown, Pennsylvania on March 16, he was buried in the cemetery of St. John parish in Perth Amboy, New Jersey on March 21, 2001.